Brighton city centre retail still performing well

A recent shop front vacancy rate survey has shown Brighton City Centre is well below the national average of 14.4%.

The Survey, which takes in all the shopping streets in the prime pitch from Montpelier Road in the east, Trafalgar Street in the west and encompassing the entire retail area between those points and the sea has shown a figure of 6.19% vacancy; much less than half the national average.

The city centre Business Improvement District which covers the Lanes, the North Laine, North Street, Western Road and Preston Street is also performing well with a vacancy rate of only 6.4%.

The city centre wide rate is a drop of 1.7% from the last survey in December 2010 and is positive news for retailers as we move in to the all important Christmas trading period, which many commentators are suggesting will be the hardest trading conditions in recent years.

The survey has also detailed the makeup of the Brighton retail scene. The data (which includes Churchill Square) shows that in the city centre 73% of retail businesses are independently owned, squeezing the market for the multiples to just 27%.

Further analysis has revealed that, unsurprisingly, a large proportion of the city centre retailers (49%) are selling comparison goods. In other words non-food items, gifts, furniture and other ‘dry goods’. Leisure services also feature highly in the city centre, with 26% of businesses offering activities for locals and visitors mainly bars, clubs and restaurants.

For a full breakdown of the results and the latest footfall data for the prime pitch click on the link below.